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Business Briefing: Fossil Fuels Subsidies Bad For Business

11/30/2015

Fossil fuel subsidies create unhealthy market incentives, artificially directing investment away from clean technologies. To help accelerate the transition to a climate neutral economy they need to be phased out.

The momentum behind eliminating fossil fuels is growing; As the COP21 climate negotiations begin in Paris, 37 governments and hundreds of business leaders have endorsed the Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform Communiqué, an urgent call for action to eliminate perverse fossil fuel subsidies. As momentum builds it is critical for business leaders to understand the implications of the end of fossil fuel subsidies and how to lead this transition from the front.

In this, the first ‘The B Team Business Briefing‘, we explore current fossil fuel subsidy trends, the impacts of phasing them out, and what progressive businesses need to do to accelerate the transition.

Fossil Fuel subsidies cost the world US $490 billion in 2014

Phasing out fossil fuel subsidies could result in CO2 emissions reductions of up to 13% by 2050

Reforming fossil fuel subsidies would create a “pull” towards low carbon businesses and facilitate investment in a fairer and more sustainable economy.

Fossil fuel subsidies introduce a distortion into the market place that impacts the investment and operational decisions made by businesses.

The B Team Business Briefings are designed to provide business leaders with relevant insights into key issues that may affect their companies. Each briefing is created collaboration with experts. If you would like to received Business Briefings straight to your inbox, please subscribe here. If you have feedback or ideas for the Business Briefing series please email us at stories@bteam.org